MOVING to an Islington warehouse was a revelation for Micky and Stu Pinkerton.
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‘‘Residents walked past, stuck their heads in and we heard interesting stories,’’ Mrs Pinkerton said.
‘‘They had common themes.’’
Most people were holding down two jobs or they combined a day job with something creative or unusual as a second string, she said.
‘‘No-one has a linear career.’’
The Pinkertons thought this was the sign of a healthy, changing city where flexible and adaptable careers were possible.
The couple felt these experiences were worth sharing so they’ve set up a series of weekend talks that begin this weekend.
People they have met in their Fern Street life, such as furniture-maker Jono Everett, handmade goods creator Diana Jones, textile artist Anne Kempton and film-makers Neil Mansfield and Greg Hall will talk about how they juggle the need to make a living with their creative lives.
Mr Everett said Newcastle was evolving from a mono-culture – steelmaking – to a more diverse community.
‘‘We moved to Newcastle from Sydney specifically because of the changes and the city’s potential,’’ he said.
The city was full of individuals with high level skills, he said.
Mrs Pinkerton has called the free get-togethers ‘‘these are the people of your neighbourhood’’.
Those involved say one of Newcastle’s advantages was its manageable size which enabled easy connections with others.
‘‘An essential part of each speaker’s brief is to explore how Newcastle fits into their picture and how it inspires them,’’ Mrs Pinkerton said.
The talks will be held at 12 Fern Street, Islington from 4pm on the last Saturday of each month, until the end of August.